Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Five Bison Qualify for NCAA East Preliminary Meet
5/17/2019 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell University track and field team will send five athletes in total to the NCAA East Provisional Meet. Matt Fay, Will Briggs, Nicholas Marino, Maura Fiamoncini and Jake Stupak will each make the trip to Jacksonville, Fla. for the competition that begins on Thursday, May 23. The top 48 marks in each event in the NCAA East Region throughout the season qualify for the meet.
"It's always exciting to qualify athletes for the NCAA Championships, said Head Coach Kevin Donner. "All 5 of our qualifiers are very hard workers and all had outstanding outdoor seasons."
Fay will be making his third straight appearance at the Preliminary meet after a senior season in which the New Rochelle, N.Y. native broke his own school record in the pole vault (17-0) at the Maroon and Gold Invite on April 27. He placed second at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (16-5.5), and also scored at IC4As (7th, 15-11.25). Fay won in five consecutive meets from April 4-27, and his second-place finish at the Patriot League Championships was his highest ever in the outdoor edition. The senior will look to improve on a 21st place showing at the preliminary round in 2017 (16-10.75), and a 36th place finish in 2018 (15-11). Fay's vault ranks 28th in the NCAA East.
Fiamoncini, now in her second consecutive NCAA Preliminary meet, qualified comfortably in the tenth spot after a season-best of 170-9 in the javelin on May 11 at ECACs. Fiamoncini took second at the meet behind All-American Kelechi Nwanaga from UMBC, who ranks seventh in the NCAA East heading into the meet. The meet was the first meet that Fiamoncini did not manage to win this season, after she had won seven straight meets entering ECACs.
Fiamoncini is no stranger to NCAA competition. As a freshman, she qualified for last season's preliminary meet and placed fifth (172-10) to move on to the Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore, where she placed 13th overall (163-8). Fiamoncini's career-best throw of 184-11, set in her first meet as a Bison at the Jim Taylor Invite, would have placed her third in last season's NCAA Championships.
"Maura obviously has experience with national caliber meets from last year and after a slow start to the outdoor season," said Donner. "She seems to be coming on now with some long throws at the league meet and the ECAC. She is peaking at the right time for a return trip to the NCAA finals."
The three other Bison are all debutants in the NCAA East Preliminary meet.
Will Briggs earned his spot at the meet after a school-record breaking performance at the Maroon and Gold Invite in the discus. Briggs crushed the previous school record of 172-3 that had stood since 2013 after throwing 177-9 to win the event and set up his qualification to the meet. He also placed seventh at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships, and was 12th at IC4As on May 11. Briggs will enter the event as the 30th-ranked throw in the NCAA East.
"Will was consistently throwing farther than he has ever thrown and really caught a big one at Bloomsburg a few weeks ago," said Donner. "This experience of going to Nationals will pay off big next year."
Marino, another standout in the pole vault, will qualify in the 44th spot for the meet after posting the third-ranked vault in the Patriot League this season (16-7.25). Marino qualified for the meet in his last opportunity, posting the mark at IC4As on May 11. Marino took first at the Army Twilight Meet on May 9, and his mark at IC4As is the second-best mark in school history behind Fay. The sophomore from Horsham, Pa. also scored at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships with a fourth-place finish.
"Nick had a great outdoor season," said Donner. "He was consistent, but the last 2-3 meets he really elevated himself and to finish 4th at the IC4A and hit a huge PR was very excited. It's great to have two vaulters at this meet."
Jake Stupak qualifies after running the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 1500 (3:45.80). His time ranks 39th in the East entering the meet, and was the third-fastest time in the Patriot League this season. Stupak placed third in the event at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (3:48.48), and also anchored Bucknell's school-record-breaking 4x800-meter relay at the meet.
"Jacob is starting to believe that he can be one of the top runners in the nation, said Donner. "I am really glad that he made this meet as a junior as it will give him tremendous experience for next year. His health has always been a concern with him regarding injuries and he was able to get in some consistent training this spring after missing the end of indoor season."
The top 12 finishers in each event will move on to the NCAA Championships held in Austin, Texas from June 5-8.
"It's always exciting to qualify athletes for the NCAA Championships, said Head Coach Kevin Donner. "All 5 of our qualifiers are very hard workers and all had outstanding outdoor seasons."
Fay will be making his third straight appearance at the Preliminary meet after a senior season in which the New Rochelle, N.Y. native broke his own school record in the pole vault (17-0) at the Maroon and Gold Invite on April 27. He placed second at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (16-5.5), and also scored at IC4As (7th, 15-11.25). Fay won in five consecutive meets from April 4-27, and his second-place finish at the Patriot League Championships was his highest ever in the outdoor edition. The senior will look to improve on a 21st place showing at the preliminary round in 2017 (16-10.75), and a 36th place finish in 2018 (15-11). Fay's vault ranks 28th in the NCAA East.
Fiamoncini, now in her second consecutive NCAA Preliminary meet, qualified comfortably in the tenth spot after a season-best of 170-9 in the javelin on May 11 at ECACs. Fiamoncini took second at the meet behind All-American Kelechi Nwanaga from UMBC, who ranks seventh in the NCAA East heading into the meet. The meet was the first meet that Fiamoncini did not manage to win this season, after she had won seven straight meets entering ECACs.
Fiamoncini is no stranger to NCAA competition. As a freshman, she qualified for last season's preliminary meet and placed fifth (172-10) to move on to the Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore, where she placed 13th overall (163-8). Fiamoncini's career-best throw of 184-11, set in her first meet as a Bison at the Jim Taylor Invite, would have placed her third in last season's NCAA Championships.
"Maura obviously has experience with national caliber meets from last year and after a slow start to the outdoor season," said Donner. "She seems to be coming on now with some long throws at the league meet and the ECAC. She is peaking at the right time for a return trip to the NCAA finals."
The three other Bison are all debutants in the NCAA East Preliminary meet.
Will Briggs earned his spot at the meet after a school-record breaking performance at the Maroon and Gold Invite in the discus. Briggs crushed the previous school record of 172-3 that had stood since 2013 after throwing 177-9 to win the event and set up his qualification to the meet. He also placed seventh at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships, and was 12th at IC4As on May 11. Briggs will enter the event as the 30th-ranked throw in the NCAA East.
"Will was consistently throwing farther than he has ever thrown and really caught a big one at Bloomsburg a few weeks ago," said Donner. "This experience of going to Nationals will pay off big next year."
Marino, another standout in the pole vault, will qualify in the 44th spot for the meet after posting the third-ranked vault in the Patriot League this season (16-7.25). Marino qualified for the meet in his last opportunity, posting the mark at IC4As on May 11. Marino took first at the Army Twilight Meet on May 9, and his mark at IC4As is the second-best mark in school history behind Fay. The sophomore from Horsham, Pa. also scored at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships with a fourth-place finish.
"Nick had a great outdoor season," said Donner. "He was consistent, but the last 2-3 meets he really elevated himself and to finish 4th at the IC4A and hit a huge PR was very excited. It's great to have two vaulters at this meet."
Jake Stupak qualifies after running the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 1500 (3:45.80). His time ranks 39th in the East entering the meet, and was the third-fastest time in the Patriot League this season. Stupak placed third in the event at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (3:48.48), and also anchored Bucknell's school-record-breaking 4x800-meter relay at the meet.
"Jacob is starting to believe that he can be one of the top runners in the nation, said Donner. "I am really glad that he made this meet as a junior as it will give him tremendous experience for next year. His health has always been a concern with him regarding injuries and he was able to get in some consistent training this spring after missing the end of indoor season."
The top 12 finishers in each event will move on to the NCAA Championships held in Austin, Texas from June 5-8.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
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